Constitutional Court Chairman: Moratorium on the death penalty is an open question

Piotr
Miklashevich, Chairman of the Constitutional Court, said at a press conference
held on 23 January in Minsk that the issue of declaring a moratorium on the
death penalty is an open question, Euroradio reports.

The official
stressed that the need for the death penalty is actively debated in society.
Belarus is the only country in Europe which still executes criminals. Because
of this, the country cannot be admitted to the Council of Europe.

However,
Miklashevich said that at the moment the Constitutional Court does not deal
with the moratorium.

“The position of
the Constitutional Court remains unchanged. In case we receive an appeal on the
mechanism of how the moratorium may be introduced – we will prepare an
appropriate conclusion,” says the Court’s Chairman.

The citizens of
Belarus have the right to appeal to the Constitutional Court to check for
compliance with the laws of the Constitution only indirectly – through authorized
entities. These include the President, both Houses of Parliament, Supreme and
Economic Courts and the Council of Ministers.